Bears release Bell

The Bears released running back Kahlil Bell on Thursday after he reportedly declined a pay cut.

Bell, 25, was competing with Lorenzo Booker and Armando Allen for the Bears' third-string running back position behind Matt Forte and Michael Bush. Bell was scheduled to earn $1.26 million this season but asked for his release instead of accepting a pay cut to $700,000, according to the Chicago Tribune.

In 20 games with the Bears, Bell rushed for 557 yards and tallied 137 receiving yards. His best performance came in Week 16 of last season against the Green Bay Packers, when he rushed 23 times for 121 yards in place of an injured Forte.